Design, Architecture, Gardens, Southern California Living

Meet Scarfdog, 'Twilight 3' director David Slade's venture into affordable art for the home

March 3, 2010 | 9:08
am

Fans of David Slade, the acclaimed director of cult hits including the psycho-sexual thriller "Hard Candy" and the graphic novel noirish vampire flick "30 Days of Night," might be shocked to discover that the man has a sweeter side. While working on his third film, "Twilight 3: Eclipse," the filmmaker has somehow found the time to fill his Fubear Studios website with intriguing illustrations and downright freaky animated films. He also has learned the art of giclee printing. Among his first available works: a quartet of prints starring Scarfdog and Duck, shown above.

Though they appear to be ideal for kids' rooms, there is an adult story behind these cheery characters. "Scarfdog loves Duck," Slade explains in a statement on the back of his signed, limited-edition 8.5-by-11-inch prints. "When Duck passes, she looks straight ahead, not at him. Scarfdog can only dream of a day sometime when his unrequited love is met."

In case you're wondering, Slade is not a parent but has found love. "I live with my fiancee and our excellent German dachshund, Django, who is definitely a design inspiration," says Slade, a former zine publisher and fan of the art publications Juxtapoz and Giant Robot. "They are my constant audience and arbiters of taste."

One last, perhaps obvious question. Why a scarf on a dog?

"It just seemed more practical than a fez," Slade says.

Scarfdog prints are sold exclusively at Yolk in Silver Lake for $30 each or $100 for the set of four. Keep reading to see the other three prints as well as Slade's 13-by-19-inch print titled "Hanging by the Thread of a Hot Dog."

Above: The other three prints in David Slade's Scarfdog collection can be hung as a triptych. "Film will always be my main focus," Slade says, "but designing and publishing my own work is something I will also always do. If people want to hang it in their homes, all the more reason to continue."

Above: "Hanging by the Thread of a Hot Dog" is printed on archival paper with archival inks. It is $75 at Yolk.

-- David A. Keeps

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